BOSNIA IN TURMOIL: A LETTER TO THE ECONOMIST (April 19, 2011)
The Dayton Peace Agreement is long dead. As your article shows, Bosnia is in turmoil (“Divided and Unruled,” April 16, 2011). Serbs, Croats, and Bosnians (read: Muslims) are unable to resolve their differences. Although war does not appear to be an option at the moment, political conflict could in time escalate into something quite unpalatable. At first glance, the European Union needs to start a new political process to come up with a viable replacement for Dayton. Chances for such a turn of events are slim, to put it gently. The Union is unable to ensure anything resembling lasting peace in the heart of Western Balkans. What is really needed is American renewed involvement, for the region has long been in American focus, but Barack Obama and his embattled government seem to be ever farther removed from it. In short, Bosnia will remain in turmoil until political conflict turns nasty enough for someone or other to intervene at last. All other options are strictly for the birds.